Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with conductive cutting edges and top and bottom conductive surfaces

ABSTRACT

An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade includes top and bottom thin elongated conductive members in vertical alignment and spaced apart from one another along their lengths where each of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members includes opposing planar sides, a sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, and a non-conductive coating covering both opposing sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space located between them where the cutting ends of the elongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends remain exposed. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having argon beam capability further includes a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein and a slot positioned over the top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of non-provisional patentapplication having Ser. No. 15/913,569, filed Mar. 6, 2018, which claimspriority to provisional patent application having Ser. No. 62/467,739,filed Mar. 6, 2017, and provisional patent application having Ser. No.62/576,213, filed Oct. 24, 2017, which are herein incorporated byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblywhich use monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting andcoagulation. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade includes top and bottomthin elongated conductive members in vertical alignment with one anotherand spaced apart from one another along their lengths wherein each ofthe top and bottom thin elongated conductive members includes opposingplanar sides, a sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, anda non-conductive coating covering both opposing sides of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members and the space located betweenthe top and bottom thin elongated conductive members wherein at least aportion of the cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends remain exposed.During use, one of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive membersfunctions as an active electrode while the other thin elongatedconductive member functions as a return electrode. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductive supportmember/socket having two openings therein in vertical alignment with oneanother wherein a portion of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members located near their non-cutting ends are respectivelycontained within one of the two openings of the support member/socket sothat the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention can beseated and retained within an electrosurgery pencil. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention is capable of cuttingtissue with the sharp conductive cutting ends of the blade without usingRF energy as well as cutting tissue with the sharp non-conductivecutting end/edge that is located between the sharp conductive cuttingends. In addition, the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention is capable of coagulating tissue and/or enhanced cutting oftissue by supplying low power to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade,and simultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by cutting tissue withthe sharp cutting ends of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade whilecoagulating tissue by applying low power to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.

The present invention is also directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly with argon beam capability which includes the previouslydescribed ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, a non-conductive tube memberhaving a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein and a slotwhere the slot is positioned over the top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member containedwithin at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member. Conductiveprojections may extend from the conductive hollow tubular member and/ora portion of the top thin elongated conductive member that is exposeddepending on the type of coagulation to be performed such as argonplasma coagulation alone and/or argon plasma assisted coagulation. Thenon-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills any spacelocated between the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members to create a sharp non-conductive cuttingend of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade located between the sharpconductive cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers. The conductive hollow tubular member contained within thenon-conductive tube member may also include a slot that is positionedover a top portion of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityprovides argon plasma coagulation of tissue and/or argon plasma assistedcutting and/or argon plasma assisted coagulation of tissue depending onthe location and configuration of the active and return electrodes ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as anelectrosurgical unit or ESU) and a handpiece with an electrode toprovide high frequency, alternating radio frequency (RF) current inputat various voltages to cut or coagulate biological tissue. The handpiecemay be a monopolar instrument with one electrode or a bipolar instrumentwith two electrodes. When using a monopolar instrument, a returnelectrode pad is attached to the patient and the high frequencyelectrical current flows from the generator, to the monopolarinstrument, through the patient to the patient return electrode pad, andback to the generator. Monopolar electrosurgery is commonly used due toits versatility and effectiveness. However, the excessive heat generatedwith monopolar electrosurgery can cause excessive tissue damage andnecrosis of the tissue because the return electrode positioned on theback of the patient causes high voltage and high RF energy to passthrough the patient.

In bipolar electrosurgery, active output and patient return functionsboth occur at the surgery site because both the active and returnelectrodes are contained in the bipolar instrument. Therefore, the pathof the electrical current is confined to the biological tissue locatedbetween the active and return electrodes. Although bipolarelectrosurgery enables the use of lower voltages and less energy andthereby reduces or eliminates the likelihood of tissue damage andsparking associated with monopolar electrosurgery, it has limitedability to cut and coagulate large bleeding areas.

Since surgical tools and devices currently available to surgeons requireswitching between cutting and coagulation modes during the surgicalprocedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables asurgeon or user to utilize the best methods used for cutting andcessation of bleeding at the surgical site at the same time, orsimultaneously, in addition to being able to use them separately. Anelectrosurgery blade having a sharp edge for cutting and RF forcoagulation would meet this need. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofthe present invention which uses monopolar energy in a bipolar mode hassharp cutting edges made of a hard conductive material, such asstainless steel, tungsten, etc. that are separated by a sharpnon-conductive cutting edge that can all be used for precisely cuttingtissue without the use of any RF energy. However, RF energy can also beused with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present inventionfor coagulation. When low voltage is used to supply power to theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention forcoagulation, the sharp cutting edges of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade can simultaneously be used for cutting without the need to providehigher voltage to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade to carry out thecutting. Therefore, there is no need to switch over to a cutting mode toperform cutting and instead both cutting and coagulation can beperformed simultaneously at low power levels supplied from thegenerator.

Moreover, the low power used to employ the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention for both cutting and coagulationsubstantially reduces the damage to the lateral tissue and the tissuewill not stick to the ultrapolar blade. Further, since the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention includes top and bottomconductive members/electrodes that are both attached to the generator,only a very small amount of a patient's tissue located between theelectrodes or adjacent to the electrodes is included in the circuitthereby eliminating the risk of current diversion to other parts of thepatient that can occur in monopolar systems where the entire patient isin the circuit.

It is also common to use argon beam coagulators during electrosurgery.In argon beam coagulation (ABC), plasma is applied to tissue by adirected beam of ionized argon gas (plasma) which causes a uniform andshallow coagulation surface thereby stopping blood loss. In someinstances, electrosurgery is often the best method for cutting and argonbeam coagulation is often the best method for cessation of bleedingduring surgery. Surgeons typically need to switch between argon beamcoagulation and electrosurgery modes depending on what is happeningduring the surgery and what they need to achieve at a particular pointin the surgery such as making incisions in tissue by cutting, orstopping the bleeding at the surgical site.

Since surgical tools and devices currently available to surgeons requireswitching between cutting and argon beam coagulation during the surgicalprocedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables asurgeon or user to utilize the best methods used for cutting andcessation of bleeding at the surgical site at the same time, orsimultaneously, in addition to being able to use them separately. Anultrapolar electrosurgery blade having a sharp edge for cutting andargon beam capability for capsulation would meet this need. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention with asharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeonto perform cutting and coagulation without the need to switch betweencutting and coagulation modes. There is also a need for anelectrosurgical device that enables a user or surgeon to choose from anumber of different separate or combined tissue cutting and coagulationmethods since different methods may work best depending on the surgicalprocedure and circumstances that present themselves during surgery.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityof the present invention is capable of coagulating a patient's tissueusing argon plasma alone without contacting the patient's tissue (i.e.non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positionednear the top of the electrosurgery blade such that it is in alignmentwith the conductive hollow tubular member through which the argon gas isintroduced and the conductive projection extending from an end of theconductive tube member so that a complete circuit is formed to ionizethe argon gas for argon plasma coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention is also capableof cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge (comprisingboth conductive and non-conductive materials) of the ultrapolar bladealone without any use of RF energy and without any use of argon plasma.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventioncan also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissue using the sharpconductive cutting edges of the ultrapolar blade by also supplying RFenergy to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Moreover, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having a sharpcutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon tosimultaneously perform cutting and coagulation without the need toswitch between cutting and coagulation modes by performing argon plasmaassisted cutting and coagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge ofthe ultrapolar blade can be used without any RF energy for cutting whilethe conductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directedto provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar blade tocoagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while the conductive tubethrough which the argon gas is introduced, and which is contained withinthe non-conductive tube, is activated and directed to provide ionizedargon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

Both the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention andthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beamcapability of the present invention could be used with an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation capability or an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil without smoke evacuation capability. Both theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention and theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability ofthe present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both theefficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or userto perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue eitherseparately or simultaneously. In instances where tissue cutting andcoagulation are performed at the same time without switching betweenmodes or methods, operating time is decreased and the lateral damage tothe tissue is reduced or eliminated. Further, use of monopolar energy ina bipolar mode with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argonbeam capability of the present invention essentially eliminates the riskof current diversion that can occur in monopolar systems. In addition,performing both tissue cutting and coagulation at the same time alongwith smoke evacuation will protect the surgeon and staff from inhalingsmoke and particles. It will also enable the surgeon or user to moreclearly view the surgical site to ensure accuracy during the procedurewithout the need to stop and switch modes in order to stop bleeding atthe surgery site before being able to clearly see the surgical site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery bladewhich uses monopolar energy in a bipolar mode and which includes top andbottom thin elongated conductive members in vertical alignment with oneanother and spaced apart from one another along their lengths whereineach of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members includesopposing planar sides, a sharp cutting end for cutting, and an oppositenon-cutting end, and a non-conductive coating covering both opposingplanar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members andthe space located between them wherein the cutting ends of the thinelongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends remainexposed. During use, one of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers functions as an active electrode while the other thin elongatedconductive member functions as a return electrode. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductive supportmember/socket having two openings therein positioned in verticalalignment with one another wherein a portion of each of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members located near their non-cuttingends are respectively contained within one of the two openings of thesupport member/socket so that the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention can be seated and retained within an electrosurgerypencil.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members may be formed froma single thin conductive member having vertically aligned top and bottomelongated conductive members spaced apart from one another along theirlengths with each having a separate sharp cutting end at one end and anon-cutting end at their opposite ends where their non-cutting ends arejoined. The non-conductive coating may then be applied to the singlethin conductive member (which includes the top and bottom elongatedconductive members and the space located between the top and bottomelongated conductive members) to form an electrosurgery blade where atleast a portion of the cutting ends of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members and their joined opposing non-cutting ends remainexposed and not covered by the non-conductive coating. The joinednon-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members canthen be removed to produce separately exposed and unconnectednon-cutting ends for the top and bottom elongated conductive memberswhich can be respectively inserted into a non-conductive supportmember/socket having two openings (as described above). One advantage informing the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present inventionusing a single thin conductive member having vertically aligned top andbottom elongated conductive members spaced apart from one another alongtheir lengths with separate sharp cutting ends at one end and joinedopposite non-cutting ends where the joined ends are later removed toproduce separate non-cutting ends is that it facilitates theconstruction and production of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade byproviding a unitary component for creating separate elements of theblade thereby increasing the consistency and accuracy of the blades.Another advantage of this type of formation of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blades are the increased efficiencies in the productionof the blades and the reduction in production costs. Still anotheradvantage of this type of blade formation for the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention is that it enhances thestrength of the blade as well as the proper functioning of the blade.

In one exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofthe present invention, the non-conductive coating covers at least aportion of the top of the top thin elongated conductive member and atleast a portion of the bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductivemember. The non-conductive coating may be a continuous coating that alsofills in any space located between the sharp cutting ends of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members. In another exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention, a portion of the top of the top thin elongated conductivemember is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating locatedon the top of the electrosurgery blade and a portion of the bottom ofthe bottom thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portionsof the non-conductive coating located on the bottom of theelectrosurgery blade. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention may have a sharp cutting edge that is comprised of the sharpcutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive membersseparated by a sharp non-cutting end comprised of the non-conductivecoating.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members (as well as thesingle thin conductive member that the top and bottom elongated membersmay be formed from) may comprise a hard metal such as, for example,stainless steel, titanium, and/or tungsten. The non-conductive coatingof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention and thenon-conductive support member may be comprised of a ceramic material.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention which usesmonopolar energy in a bipolar mode has sharp cutting edges made of ahard conductive material, such as stainless steel, tungsten, etc. thatare separated by a sharp non-conductive cutting edge that can all beused for precisely cutting tissue without the use of any RF energy.However, RF energy can also be used with the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention for coagulation. When low voltage is usedto supply power to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention for coagulation, the sharp cutting edges of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade can simultaneously be used for cutting without theneed to provide higher voltage to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade tocarry out the cutting. Therefore, there is no need to switch over to acutting mode to perform cutting and instead both cutting and coagulationcan be performed simultaneously at low power levels supplied from thegenerator.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability includes the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade described above and further includes a non-conductive tube memberhaving a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein and a slotwhere the slot is positioned over the top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member containedwithin at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member. In oneexemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofthe present invention, a portion of the top of the top thin elongatedconductive member is exposed between portions of the non-conductivecoating located on the top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade andcontained within the non-conductive tube member and the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly further includes a conductive projectionextending from the conductive hollow tubular member contained within thenon-conductive tube member and/or the portion of the top of the top thinelongated conductive member located on top of the electrosurgery bladeand contained within the non-conductive tube member. In anotherexemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofthe present invention, the non-conductive coating covers the top of thetop thin elongated conductive member located between the conductivehollow tubular member and the exposed cutting end of the top thinelongated conductive member and the ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly further includes a conductive projection extending from an endof the conductive hollow tubular member contained within thenon-conductive tube member.

The conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductivetube member may include a slot that, like the slot in the non-conductivetube member, is also positioned over at least a portion of the top ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Like the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, theconductive hollow tubular member, as well as the conductive projections,may comprise a hard metal such as, for example, stainless steel,titanium, and/or tungsten. Further, like the non-conductive coating ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, the non-conductive tube member maybe comprised of a ceramic material.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityof the present invention is capable of coagulating a patient's tissueusing argon plasma alone without contacting the patient's tissue (i.e.non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positionednear the top of the electrosurgery blade such that it is in alignmentwith the conductive hollow tubular member through which the argon gas isintroduced and the conductive projection extending from an end of theconductive tube member so that a complete circuit is formed to ionizethe argon gas for argon plasma coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention is also capableof cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge (comprisingboth conductive and non-conductive materials) of the ultrapolar bladealone without any use of RF energy and without any use of argon plasma.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventioncan also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissue using the sharpconductive cutting edges of the ultrapolar blade by also supplying RFenergy to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Moreover, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having a sharpcutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon tosimultaneously perform cutting and coagulation without the need toswitch between cutting and coagulation modes by performing argon plasmaassisted cutting and coagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge ofthe ultrapolar blade can be used without any RF energy for cutting whilethe conductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directedto provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar blade tocoagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while the conductive tubethrough which the argon gas is introduced, and which is contained withinthe non-conductive tube, is activated and directed to provide ionizedargon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a thin conductivemember having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members used tomake the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a thinconductive member having top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers used to make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention showing theexemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member of FIG. 1 coated witha non-conductive coating except for the cutting ends and the joinednon-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive memberswhere the non-conductive coating is represented by light shade hashmarks and/or hash marks made of unconnected dots;

FIG. 4 is a front end view of a support member/socket/connector memberwhich retains a portion of the unconnected non-cutting ends of the topand bottom elongated conductive members of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade thereby facilitating the connection of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention to an electrosurgerypencil.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with thethin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with thethin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 7 is an external side view showing the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade shown in FIG. 3 with the joined portionof the non-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers removed and the top and bottom elongated conductive memberscovered by the non-conductive coating shown in phantom;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 with thetop elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductive coatingshown in phantom;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 with thebottom elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductive coatingshown in phantom;

FIG. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a supportmember/connector member into which unconnected non-cutting ends of thetop and bottom elongated conductive members of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade are placed so that the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention can be connected to, and unconnected orremoved from, an electrosurgery pencil;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the support member/connector member shown inFIG. 10 showing conductive unconnected non-cutting ends of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention retained withinthe openings in the support member/connector member;

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of another exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention showing a sharpcutting end beveled on both sides to create a sharp cutting tip;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS.3 and 7;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are opposing perspective side views of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 7 to further reveal the shape of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention;

FIGS. 16-17 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention when used in anon-telescopic electrosurgery pencil;

FIGS. 18-19 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention when used in a telescopicelectrosurgery pencil;

FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention havingargon beam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation;

FIG. 21 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assistedcoagulation with the return electrode extending along part of the bottomof the ultrapolar blade; and

FIG. 22 is a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodimentof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability which is capable of providing both argonplasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade andultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability ofthe present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both theefficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or userto perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue eitherseparately or simultaneously. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention is capable of cutting tissue with the sharp conductivecutting ends of the blade without using RF energy as well as cuttingtissue with the sharp non-conductive cutting end/edge that is locatedbetween the sharp conductive cutting ends. In addition, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention is capable of coagulatingtissue and/or enhanced cutting of tissue by supplying very low power,such as 5 to 15 watts, to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, andsimultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by cutting tissue with thesharp cutting ends of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade whilecoagulating tissue by applying very low power to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionwith a sharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user orsurgeon to perform cutting and coagulation without the need to switchbetween cutting and coagulation modes. There is also a need for anelectrosurgical device that enables a user or surgeon to choose from anumber of different separate or combined tissue cutting and coagulationmethods since different methods may work best depending on the surgicalprocedure and circumstances that present themselves during surgery. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability ofthe present invention is capable of coagulating a patient's tissue usingargon plasma alone without contacting the patient's tissue (i.e.non-contact argon beam coagulation). The ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly of the present invention is also capable of cutting a patient'stissue using the sharp cutting edge (comprising both conductive andnon-conductive materials) of the ultrapolar blade alone without any useof RF energy and without any use of argon plasma. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention can also enhancethe cutting of a patient's tissue using the sharp conductive cuttingedges of the ultrapolar blade by also supplying RF energy to theultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Moreover, the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly of the present invention having a sharp cutting edge andargon beam capability enables a user or surgeon to simultaneouslyperform cutting and coagulation without the need to switch betweencutting and coagulation modes by performing argon plasma assistedcutting and coagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge of theultrapolar blade can be used without any RF energy for cutting while theconductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and which iscontained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directed toprovide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar blade tocoagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while the conductive tubethrough which the argon gas is introduced, and which is contained withinthe non-conductive tube, is activated and directed to provide ionizedargon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

The identity of the elements/features that relate to the numbers shownin the drawing figures are as follows:

-   -   10 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade    -   11 thin conductive member    -   12 top thin elongated conductive member    -   14 bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   16 elongated space between top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members    -   18 opposing planar sides (of top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members)    -   22 sharp cutting end of top thin elongated conductive member    -   24 sharp cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   26 opposite non-cutting end of top thin elongated conductive        member    -   28 opposite non-cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive        member    -   30 portion of thin conductive member joining opposite        non-cutting ends of top and bottom thin elongated conductive        members 26 and 28    -   31 thin conductive member    -   32 top thin elongated conductive member    -   34 bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   36 elongated space between top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members    -   38 opposing planar sides (of top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members)    -   42 sharp cutting end of top thin elongated conductive member    -   44 sharp cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   46 opposite non-cutting end of top thin elongated conductive        member    -   48 opposite non-cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive        member    -   50 portion of thin conductive member joining opposite        non-cutting ends of top and bottom thin elongated conductive        members 46 and 48    -   60 non-conductive coating/housing    -   62 non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member    -   63 rounded top portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member)    -   65 rounded bottom portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member)    -   64 two vertically aligned openings    -   66 top of the top thin elongated conductive member    -   68 bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   70 sharp non-conductive cutting end    -   72 non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member for        ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil    -   73 rounded top portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member for ultrapolar telescopic        electrosurgery pencil)    -   74 two vertically aligned openings    -   100 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   120 non-conductive tube member    -   122 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   124 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   130 conductive hollow tubular member    -   132 conductive projection    -   200 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   220 non-conductive tube member    -   222 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   224 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   230 conductive hollow tubular member    -   232 conductive projection    -   300 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   320 non-conductive tube member    -   322 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   324 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   330 conductive hollow tubular member    -   332 conductive projection    -   334 slot (of conductive hollow tubular member)

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a thin conductivemember 11 having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14used to make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the presentinvention. Thin conductive member 11 includes a top thin elongatedconductive member 12 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 14 invertical alignment with one another and separated from one another alongtheir lengths by a space 16. The width of the space 16 located betweenthe top thin elongated conductive member 12 and the bottom thinelongated conductive member 14 is the same along more than half thelength of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14.The top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 each haveopposing planar sides 18, with each opposing planar side 18 having alength and a width, a sharp cutting end 22, 24 and an oppositenon-cutting end 26, 28 where the opposite non-cutting ends 26, 28 arejoined by a portion 30 of the thin conductive member 11. The width ofthe space 16 that is the same along more than half the length of the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14 is smaller than thewidth of each of the opposing planar sides 18 of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members 12, 14 located adjacent to the sharpcutting ends 22, 24. The width of the space 16 that is the same alongmore than half the length of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members 12, 14 is also smaller than the width of each of theopposing planar sides 18 located at a middle of the length of the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14. In one exemplaryembodiment of the thin conductive member 11, the sharp cutting ends 22,24 of the thin conductive member 11 form an angle X relative to a planethat is in horizontal alignment with the bottom of the bottom thinelongated conductive member 14 where X is a sixty degree angle.

A side view of another exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member31 having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 32, 34 usedto make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present inventionis shown in FIG. 2. Like the thin conductive member 11 shown in FIG. 1,thin conductive member 31 includes a top thin elongated conductivemember 32 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 34 in verticalalignment with one another and separated from one another along theirlengths by a space 36. The width of the space 36 located between the topthin elongated conductive member 32 and the bottom thin elongatedconductive member 34 is the same along more than half the length of thetop and bottom thin elongated conductive members 32, 34. The top andbottom elongated conductive members 32, 34 each have opposing planarsides 38, with each opposing planar side 38 having a length and a width,a sharp cutting end 42, 44 and an opposite non-cutting end 46, 48 wherethe opposite non-cutting ends 46, 48 are joined by a portion 50 of thethin conductive member 31. The width of the space 36 that is the samealong more than half the length of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members 32, 34 is smaller than the width of each of theopposing planar sides 38 of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers 32, 34 located adjacent to the sharp cutting ends 42, 44. Thewidth of the space 36 that is the same along more than half the lengthof the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 32, 24 is alsosmaller than the width of each of the opposing planar sides 38 locatedat a middle of the length of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members 32, 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the sharp cutting end 42of top thin elongated conductive member 32 extends well beyond the sharpcutting end 44 of the bottom thin elongated conductive member 34 and theangle of the sharp cutting end 44 in relation to the bottom of thebottom thin elongated conductive member 34 is much steeper than theangle of the sharp cutting end 42 in relation to the bottom of the topthin elongated conductive member 32. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottomthin elongated conductive members of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blademay include any number of shapes and/or configurations depending on thetype and circumstances of the surgical procedure to be performed usingthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

FIG. 3 is side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention showing theexemplary embodiment of the thin conductive member 11 of FIG. 1 coatedwith a non-conductive coating 60 except for the cutting ends 22, 24 andthe joined non-cutting ends 26, 28, 30 of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 where the non-conductive coating 60 isrepresented by light shade hash marks and/or hash marks made ofunconnected dots. FIG. 5 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown inFIG. 3 with the thin conductive member 11 shown in phantom and FIG. 6 isa bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 withthe thin conductive member 11 shown in phantom. As can be seen fromFIGS. 3 and 5-6, the non-conductive coating 60 covers the thinconductive member 11 except for sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the top andbottom elongate conductive members 12, 14, a portion of the top 66 ofthe of the top elongated conductive member 12, a portion of the bottom68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14, the non-cutting ends26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 and theportion 30 of the thin conductive member 11 that joins the non-cuttingends 26, 28.

After the non-conductive coating 60 is applied to the thin conductivemember 11 and the coating 60 is set, the portion 30 that joins thenon-cutting ends 26, 28 is removed as shown in FIG. 7 to provide anultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 having unconnected conductivenon-cutting ends 26, 28 supported by a support member/socket/connectingmember 64 which facilitates connection of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 10 of the present invention to an electrosurgery pencil. FIG. 7 isan external side view showing the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 shown in FIG. 3 with the joined portion 30 ofthe non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 removed and most of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 covered by the non-conductive coating 60 shownin phantom. Advantages in forming the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10of the present invention using a single thin conductive member 11 havingvertically aligned top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14spaced apart from one another along their lengths with separate sharpcutting ends 22, 24 at one end and joined opposite non-cutting ends 26,28, 30 where the joined ends are later removed to produce separatenon-cutting ends 26, 28 include 1) facilitation of the construction andproduction of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention by providing a unitary component for creating separateelements of the blade thereby increasing the consistency and accuracy ofthe blades, 2) increased efficiencies in the production of the bladesand the reduction in production costs, and 3) enhanced strength of theblade as well as the enhanced proper functioning of the blade.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 withthe top elongated conductive member 12 that is covered by thenon-conductive coating 60 shown in phantom. A portion of the top 66 ofthe top elongated conductive member 12 is exposed between portions ofnon-conductive coating 60 located on a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade. FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 7 with the bottom elongated conductive member 14covered by the non-conductive coating 60 shown in phantom. A portion ofthe bottom 68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14 is exposedbetween portions of non-conductive coating 60 located on a bottom of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the non-conductive coating is a continuouscoating that fills elongated space 16 located between the top and bottomelongated conductive members 12, 14 as well as any space located betweenthe sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14. The space between the sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of thetop and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 that is filled withthe non-conductive coating 60 forms a sharp non-conductive cutting endpositioned between the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24 of theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil 10.

FIG. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a supportmember/socket/connector member 62 into which unconnected non-cuttingends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 are placed so that the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention can be easily connectedto, and unconnected or removed from, an electrosurgery pencil. Thesupport member/socket/connector member 62 includes two verticallyaligned openings 64 so that conductive non-cutting ends 26, 28 can berespectively retained in them. An end view of the supportmember/connector member 62 shown in FIG. 10 showing conductiveunconnected non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 10 of the present invention retained within the openings 64 in thesupport member/socket/connector member 62 is shown in FIG. 11.

A partial top view of another exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention showing a sharp cuttingend beveled on both sides to create a sharp cutting tip 22 is shown inFIG. 12. A partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention shown inFIGS. 3 and 7 is depicted in FIG. 13. FIG. 13 clearly shows sharpconductive cutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members 12, 14 exposed after coating the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members 12, 14 with non-conductive coating 60 andsharp non-conductive cutting end 74 comprised of the non-conductivecoating 60 located between the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24.FIG. 13 also clearly shows a portion of the top 66 of the top elongatedconductive member 12 exposed between portions of non-conductive coating60 located on top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 and incommunication with the sharp cutting end 22 of the top elongatedconductive member 12.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are opposing perspective side views of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 7 to further reveal the shape of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 14and 15, the conductive coating 60 which covers most of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14 follows the shape of thetop of the top elongated conductive member 12 and the shape of thebottom of the bottom elongated conductive member 14 until it gets to theportions of the top 66 of the top elongated conductive member 12 and thebottom 68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14 that remainexposed between portions of non-conductive coating on the top of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 that are located adjacent to thecutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members12, 14. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the non-conductivesupport member/socket/connecting member 62 is designed to retainnon-cutting ends 26, 28 of top and bottom elongated conductive members12, 14 and/or portions of the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 located near the non-cutting ends 26, 28 to facilitateconnection of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the presentinvention with an electrosurgery pencil. The width of the non-conductivesupport member/socket/connecting member 62 is greater than a middlewidth of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 which is in turn greaterthan a width of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 located near thesharp cutting edge of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 whichincludes the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated by the sharpnon-conductive cutting end 74. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10has a three step configuration along the top and bottom lengths of theblade 10 which relate to the heights of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 10.

FIGS. 16-17 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention when used in anon-telescopic electrosurgery pencil and FIGS. 18-19 show differentviews of an exemplary embodiment of the non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 of the present invention when used in atelescopic electrosurgery pencil. Non-conductive supportmember/socket/connecting member 62 includes a rounded top portion 63, arounded bottom portion 65, and two vertically aligned openings 64 forreceiving non-cutting ends 26, 28 of top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 and/or portions of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 located near the non-cutting ends 26, 28.Non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member 72 includes arounded top portion 73 and two vertically aligned openings 74 forreceiving non-cutting ends 26, 28 of top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 and/or portions of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 located near the non-cutting ends 26, 28.

FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 100 of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assistedcoagulation. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 100 includes theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 previously described above andfurther includes a non-conductive tube member 120 having a hollowtubular shaped opening 122 contained therein and a slot 124 where theslot is positioned over a top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 100 further includes aconductive hollow tubular member 130 that is contained within at least aportion of the non-conductive tube member 120. Conductive hollow tubularmember 130 may also include a conductive projection 132. The sharpcutting edge (comprising conductive cutting ends 22, 26 separated bysharp non-conductive cutting end 74) or a portion of the sharp cuttingedge can be used without RF energy for cutting while argon gas isintroduced through the conductive hollow tubular member 130 containedwithin the non-conductive tube member 120 while the conductive hollowtubular member 130 is activated and the conductive projection 132 candirect the ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.Alternatively, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 10 to coagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while argongas is introduced through the conductive hollow tubular member 130contained within the non-conductive tube member 120 while the conductivehollow tubular member 130 is activated and the conductive projection 132can direct the ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

FIG. 21 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 200 of the presentinvention having argon beam capability for providing argon plasmaassisted coagulation with the return electrode extending along part ofthe bottom of the ultrapolar blade. Ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly 200 includes the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 previouslydescribed above and further includes a non-conductive tube member 220having a hollow tubular shaped opening 222 contained therein and a slot224 where the slot is positioned over a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly200 further includes a conductive hollow tubular member 230 that iscontained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member220. Conductive hollow tubular member 230 may also include a conductiveprojection 232. The sharp cutting edge (comprising conductive cuttingends 22, 26 separated by sharp non-conductive cutting end 74) or aportion of the sharp cutting edge can be used without RF energy forcutting while argon gas is introduced through the conductive hollowtubular member 230 contained within the non-conductive tube member 220while the conductive hollow tubular member 230 is activated and theconductive projection 232 can direct the ionized argon gas for argonplasma coagulation of tissue. Alternatively, low power may be applied tothe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 to coagulate tissue or enhancecutting of tissue while argon gas is introduced through the conductivehollow tubular member 230 contained within the non-conductive tubemember 220 while the conductive hollow tubular member 230 is activatedand the conductive projection 232 can direct the ionized argon gas forargon plasma coagulation of tissue thereby employing argon plasmaassisted cutting and/or coagulation

FIG. 22 is a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodimentof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 of the presentinvention having argon beam capability which is capable of providingboth argon plasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation.Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 includes the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 previously described above and further includesa non-conductive tube member 320 having a hollow tubular shaped opening322 contained therein and a slot 324 where the slot is positioned over atop of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly 300 further includes a conductive hollowtubular member 330 that is contained within at least a portion of thenon-conductive tube member 320. Conductive hollow tubular member 330 mayalso include a conductive projection 332. In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode 22 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 ispositioned near the top of the electrosurgery blade 10 such that it isin alignment with the conductive hollow tubular member 330, throughwhich the argon gas is introduced, and the conductive projection 332extending from an end of the conductive tubular member 332 so that acomplete circuit is formed to ionize the argon gas for argon plasmacoagulation. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 of thepresent invention is also capable of cutting a patient's tissue usingthe sharp cutting edge (comprising conductive cutting ends 22, 26separated by sharp non-conductive cutting end 74) of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 alone without any use of RF energy and withoutany use of argon plasma. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly300 of the present invention can also enhance the cutting of a patient'stissue using the sharp conductive cutting edges 22, 24 of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 by also supplying RF energy to the exposedportion of the active electrode 24 of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 10. Moreover, the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 ofthe present invention having a sharp cutting edge and argon beamcapability enables a user or surgeon to simultaneously perform cuttingand coagulation without the need to switch between cutting andcoagulation modes by performing argon plasma assisted cutting andcoagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 can be used without any RF energy for cuttingwhile the conductive hollow tubular member 330 through which the argongas is introduced, and which is contained within the non-conductive tubemember 320, is activated and directed via conductive projection 332 toprovide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 to coagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissuewhile the conductive hollow tubular member 330 through which the argongas is introduced, and which is contained within the non-conductive tubemember 320, is activated and directed via the conductive projection 332to provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

The drawings and description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein shows various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Theseexemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended toteach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes andany equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to thosereasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples arenon-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, whichsimilarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments thatare known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used inthe practice of the instant invention, in addition to those notspecifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted tospecific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters,or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of theinstant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the wordsand phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonlyaccepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used bythose of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance wherethese meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification andthe claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. Ifany other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, thespecification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

1. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade comprising: a top thin elongatedconductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member invertical alignment with one another and spaced apart from one anotheralong their lengths wherein each of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members includes opposing planar sides, a sharp cutting endand an opposite non-cutting end; and a non-conductive coating thatcovers both opposing planar sides of the top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members and that fills the space between the top and bottomthin elongated conductive members wherein at least a portion of thesharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers and their opposite non-cutting ends remain exposed.
 2. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 further comprising anon-conductive support member having two openings therein in verticalalignment with one another wherein a portion of said top and bottom thinelongated conductive members are respectively contained within one ofthe two openings.
 3. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1wherein the non-conductive coating covers at least a portion of a top ofthe top thin elongated conductive member and at least a portion of abottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member.
 4. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive coating is acontinuous coating that also fills any space located between the sharpconductive cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers to form a non-conductive sharp cutting end located between theconductive sharp cutting ends.
 5. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofclaim 4 wherein at least a portion of a top of the top thin elongatedconductive member is exposed between portions of non-conductive coatinglocated on a top of the electrosurgery blade and at least a portion of abottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member is exposed betweenportions of non-conductive coating located on a bottom of theelectrosurgery blade.
 6. The electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein thetop and bottom thin elongated conductive members comprise a hard metal.7. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein thenon-conductive coating comprises a ceramic material.
 8. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of claim 2 wherein the non-conductive supportmember comprises a ceramic material.
 9. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of claim 1 wherein the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade has a sharpcutting edge comprising the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottomthin elongated conductive members separated by a sharp non-conductivecutting end.
 10. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly thatincludes the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 and furthercomprises: a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shapedopening contained therein and a slot wherein the slot is positioned overa top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade such that the slot is inphysical contact with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade; and aconductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion ofthe non-conductive tube member.
 11. The ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of a top of the top thinelongated conductive member is exposed between portions of thenon-conductive coating located on a top of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade and contained within the non-conductive tube member and theelectrosurgery blade assembly further comprises a conductive projectionextending from at least one of the conductive hollow tubular membercontained within the non-conductive tube member and the portion of thetop of the top thin elongated conductive member located on top of theelectrosurgery blade and contained within the non-conductive tubemember.
 12. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 10wherein the non-conductive coating covers a top of the top thinelongated conductive member located between the conductive hollowtubular member and the exposed cutting end of the top thin elongatedconductive member and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblyfurther comprises a conductive projection extending from an end of theconductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductivetube member.
 13. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim10 further comprising a non-conductive support member having twoopenings therein in vertical alignment with one another wherein aportion of said top and bottom thin elongated conductive members arerespectively contained within one of the two openings.
 14. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 10 wherein thenon-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills any spacelocated between the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members.
 15. The ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of a top of the top thinelongated conductive member is exposed between portions ofnon-conductive coating located on a top of the electrosurgery blade andat least a portion of a bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductivemember is exposed between portions of non-conductive coating located ona bottom of the electrosurgery blade.
 16. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly of claim 10 wherein the conductive hollow tubular membercomprises a hard metal.
 17. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblyof claim 10 wherein the non-conductive tube member comprises a ceramic.18. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 10 wherein thenon-conductive coating of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade comprisesa ceramic.
 19. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 10wherein the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade comprise a hard metal.
 20. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 10 wherein the conductivehollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tube membercomprises a slot wherein the slot of the conductive hollow tubularmember is also positioned over at least a portion of the top of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.